discalimer: same bs

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled loudly, matching the pace of the clash of battle between Woads and warriors. Anika stayed as close to Dagonet as she could, 2-foot blade in one hand, dagger in another. Roman guards were trying their best to keep the Woads back, away from the stairs, fearing if they descended them, they would attack the whole village. Blue demons came in an endless stream, leaving Anika to fight with every ounce of strength she had.

But what if it's not enough?

The words echoed in the fire-eaters mind and she gasped as she was suddenly forced against a wall, dagger knocked from her hand. No. There would be no such thoughts in her mind. They would leave her weak and defenseless. Slashing out, her 2-foot blade sliced at a Woads neck. Blood flowed from the gaping hole and he let out a small gurgle before falling to the ground.

But, of course, there was another right behind him and he met her blade as she rushed forward. A flash of blue caught her off guard as another Woad attacked her, slamming his whole body into her side. Anika's blade fell from her grasp as she slammed, once again, into cold stone wall. Something in her left shoulder snapped and she cried out in pain.

A blade whizzed towards her face but she dodged just in time to keep from being cut. But what she wasn't expecting was the butt of an axe waiting to slam into her face as she dodged the first attack. Wood and metal connected with Anika's left cheekbone and she stumbled to the right from the blow. Her assailant wasn't taking a moment's pause though and hit her again. This blow hit her left eye and she stumbled more, falling to one knee.

A dark chuckle took place of the rumble of thunder and Anika looked up at the Woad standing over her, axe in hand as a taunting smile played over his blue features. The fire-eater could feel blood trickling from her cheek and eyebrow, no doubt skin split from the hard hits to her face. Her shoulder ached terribly and her head was throbbing, and she had lost two of her weapons already. The blue demon raised his axe and she sucked in a breath, waiting for the pain that would come.

A glint of iron revealed itself in the dark with a flash of lightning and suddenly a dagger was in the Woad's neck. He let out a cry and began to fall back, but not without bringing his axe down one last time. Anika let out a cry as the blade glanced off her left side.

Rosala was suddenly in front of her, two razor-sharp daggers drawn. She took out two Woads as Anika relaxed a little, glad of her savior friend. Blood was quickly soaking her tunic and the fire-eater winced as rain began to pelt down, smacking skin and clashing with armor as the clouds finally released it's torrent.

Rosala met a Woad, blade for blade, and was trying her hardest to hold him back. Clearly, her strength was no match for his. Just as her knees began to shake, on the verge of failing, an arrow shot through the darkness and pierced deep into the chest of the blue demon. He grunted and fell back, dead. Rosala turned her eyes in the direction the projectile came and smiled a little. The wielder of the bow was none other than the stoic, dark-haired scout of the seven knights. Five others joined the guards and Woads on the wall, fighting back the blue demons with ease. When they had reached the spot where Anika now sat, Rosala went to her friend's side, worry etched deep in her features.

The Woads slipped down the ropes and hurried back to the forest almost as quickly and quietly as they had came. Arthur and his knights sheathed their weapons and talked quietly amongst themselves, discussing what had just occurred. Anika's eyes set on the tall Roman leader and she knew now why he was trusted so deeply by his six knights. His appearance gave away all signs of his years of leadership: hard, dark eyes, tense features, and a posture as straight as a statue.

Rosala was trying her best to apply pressure to the wound on Anika's side as the fire-eater cradled her left arm to her chest. Rain was still pouring down, soaking everything it could reach, including clothing. Rosala let out a small curse as her hand slipped from the wound, blood proving to be just as slick as the rain. Anika let out a cry and all seven of the knights turned their attention quickly to her. Dagonet moved swiftly to her side and pressed a large, calloused hand onto her wound. Feeling quite foolish, Rosala stepped back to give him space.

Anika turned her eyes to the knight and was amazed at the calm control he seemed to have over her situation. She lowered her eyes to the hand that was pressed to her side and noticed, with alarm, the blood soaking into his shirt sleeve. "You're injured," she muttered but he shook his head.

"Nothing more than a scratch. You're the one who's injured." He kept his eyes on her bloody side, concentrating on tending to her. Anika lowered her eyes to the ground as Arthur stepped over a blue body and was suddenly at Dagonet's side.

"Take her to one of the spare rooms," The Roman's tone was firm but gentle, a command, not a request. "You can tend her wounds there without distraction or interruption."

The scarred giant nodded and removed his hand from Anika's wound, causing the fire-eater to cry out once more. Swiftly and with ease, he slid an arm behind her knees and another behind her neck before he lifted her from the ground. Anika squeaked in surprise at the sudden contact of her body against the knight's broad chest. Looking back, she saw Rosala stand, eyes full of worry, rain coating her face and hair. Anika met her eyes and smiled lightly, calmly, as Dagonet carried her off.


A/N: a lil short but had to get some hurtin in on Anika. she didnt exactly show off the bad-ass fighting skills she has but got a few good hits in there before she was mostly incompacitated (sp?). still no reviews for the 4th chapter yet but hopefully with this one uploaded, they will come. hopefully. ale and Woad ass-kicking to whomever R&Rs.